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In a major victory for wildlife, Japanese giant Internet retailer Rakuten announced on July 6, 2017, that it was banning the sale of ivory on its site, with trading to be phased out over the next month. Rakuten Inc., valued at $16.48 billion on July 7, 2017, was in 2014 named the world’s largest seller of ivory online by conservationists.

Japanese giant Internet retailer, Rakuten, on July 6, 2017, announced that it was banning the sale of ivory on its site with trading to be phased out over the next month.

The move, which came following mounting international criticism of the trade and sweeping public support for a policy change — whereby over 36,500 individuals sent letters to Rakuten’s president urging the closure of the platform’s ivory sales as part of an AWF demand reduction campaign.

The African Wildlife Foundation will miss an exemplary leader and an incredible friend. Africa will miss an inspirational Democrat and a peacemaker. Former President of the Republic of Botswana Sir Ketumile Masire's loss will also be felt in places most people will not immediately think of – in Africa’s wilds.